SP, NYY, highly touted pitcher in the Yanks farm system that they actually didn't give up for someone who's 38!

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Hughes will get a long look during spring training, but I really don't think he'll start the season on the major league roster, although I think the Rand Johnson trade has helped his cause. The Yankees brass want him to get some more real development as a starting pitcher. Here's my prediction:

2007--will NOT come up early in the season after Igawa gets shelled in several outings and gets moved to the pen (someone from the pen will replace Igawa and do reasonably well). WILL join the team in early summer when Mussina's aging arm sends him to the DL. Just a cup o' coffee for a few weeks, then he rejoins the team again as a reliever/spot starter in September.
2008--Has permanent spot in rotation.

He has a low-mid 90s fastball with good movement, a very good curve, a slider with great late movement, and a changeup that is okay but needs some more work.

Widely considered one of the best 2 or 3 SP prospects in baseball, and one of the top 5 prospects regardless of position. Sickels gives him an A (one of 5 As), Project Prospect has him 3rd overall, Top Prospect 4th, MiLB 4th, Baseball Digest 2nd.

Denmarch wrote:2007--will NOT come up early in the season after Igawa gets shelled in several outings and gets moved to the pen (someone from the pen will replace Igawa and do reasonably well). WILL join the team in early summer ..edit.. Just a cup o' coffee for a few weeks, then he rejoins the team again as a reliever/spot starter in September.2008--Has permanent spot in rotation.

All I can say is I own him in my league and there is no way I am trading him. I put his talent on the same level as the likes of Matt Cain. He is just a good all around pitcher. I think he's fairly similar to Adam Miller another highly touted pitching prospect. I like him alot. I signed him as a free agent before the 2006 season because, of the reports on him. He had a coming out year this year and is highly touted as a top 3 or more likely a top 2 pitching prospect.

Personally, I think 2007 we could have more minor league pitchers come up and make an impact then we did in 2006. Theres so much depth in pitching prospects and alot of them are very close to the majors.

nathan050904 wrote:Personally, I think 2007 we could have more minor league pitchers come up and make an impact then we did in 2006. Theres so much depth in pitching prospects and alot of them are very close to the majors.